Chapter 32: Dance Committee

--one week later--

~Byakuya's POV~ I joined because June joined.

I was in the gymnasium, watching as the Hope's Peak Academy Dance Committee for the 2016 Winter Gala work endlessly.

Naegi had mentioned it during lunch at one point, and a month turns into two weeks as the Gala looms closer.

The Dance Committee took measurements, brainstormed ideas for the designs, and other things I had absolutely no remote interest in.

I'm not sure June did either, but Sayaka had convinced her to join, so she did.

And now I'm here because she's here. Friends are supposed to do everything together, so here I am.

It was cold and drafty inside the big gym, which defeated the purpose of even staying inside at all, since that meant it wasn't much better than the outside.

Within the week the first few days of December rolled around and, like clockwork, the temperature began to drop and Japan experienced it's first snow day of the year.

It wasn't snowing that much today, but that was because it was just starting out.

It would get worse. And colder, much colder.

I tugged my coat tighter around my body, trying to keep warm. I'd rather be anywhere else than here.

Luckily, I had not only June with me, but Naegi too, who wanted to support me and decided to join the Dance Committee as well.

"I shouldn't even be here right now," I grumbled to Naegi. "I should be at my house, drinking some hot chocolate, and wrapped up in about a dozen blankets..."

"You want to try and get warm in your big, drafty house? I've been there before, Byakuya, and it isn't exactly warm and fuzzy." Naegi said. He had been to my house, several times, to study.

Which would explain why he's correct. "I suppose you're right about that..." I reluctantly agreed.

"Byakuya, if you didn't want to be here or even join the Dance Committee in the first place, why did you?" Naegi asked.

"I told you already, Naegi, I'm here because of June. Since our friendship is growing stronger, I thought I'd help move the process faster by joining everything she joins, like clubs and such. It just so happens she joined the stupid Dance Committee..." I said.

Naegi sighed. "Come on, Byakuya, cheer up! It's not so bad...!" He gestured to the window. "Besides, it's snowing outside! It's our first snow day of the year!"

"So it's cold and wet out there, how's that supposed to make me 'cheer up'?" I asked.

"Are you kidding? Byakuya, snow days are awesome! You get to play in the snow, build a snowman, there's snowball fights...," Naegi went on. "Also, I'm waiting for when it gets bad enough to cancel school, which is yet another perk to snow days. Need I go on?"

I rolled my eyes. "If you want to, Naegi, be my guest."

Suddenly, before Naegi could go on, June appeared at my side. "Hey, Byakuya!" she said.

I smiled. "Hello, June. Having a good time?"

"I guess so, but it's really cold in here," June rubbed her arms. "I really wish I didn't forget my coat in my dorm room..."

"Here. You can have mine." I said as I began removing my coat.

"No, it's okay, Byakuya... It's your coat...!" June said.

"Exactly, it's my coat, which means I get to do anything I want with it, so I'm giving it to you," I said before I held it out to her. "Take it."

June looked at my coat before she took it and immediately wrapped it around her shoulders. "Thanks."

I smiled again. "Of course. What are friends for?"

June's emerald-green orb-like eyes sparkled. "Yeah, of course." She smiled.

I stared into her eyes. I remember how many times I'd get lost in those beautiful green emeralds, the greenest eyes I've ever seen on a person. I could stare into them forever without ever looking away. Every time I looked into those eyes, I felt as if I had been placed under some sort of spell.

And it was a good feeling.

My eyes widened as I suddenly realized what I was doing.

I'm literally just staring at June right now.

I snapped my head down. Great, first the whole arm-around-the-waist thing at lunch last week, and now I'm staring at her eyes... Good job, Byakuya, she must not think you're creepy at all...!

Note the heavy sarcasm.

I actually can't believe I still feel the same way about June even after I had thought for years that I hated her. It was years of hating each other, years of not being friends, and I had been sure my... crush... on her had been annihilated completely.

And yet, here I am, still going on and on about her emerald eyes like some lovesick schoolgirl.

Do I actually still have feelings for June? We've only just rebuilt our friendship and been friends for about a WEEK...!

I need to get myself together. I'm allowed to notice an attractive girl if I want to; it's completely normal.

Nevermind the fact that the attractive girl I'm noticing is June.

Had it been any other girl, I would not care.

However, I wouldn't notice any other girl.

I cursed myself.

Stop it.

"Um... Byakuya...? Are you okay...? You've kinda been staring out into space..."

June's voice yanked me back down to earth. "Hm?" I asked.

"I said, are you okay?" June said.

I nodded, probably too quickly. "Yes. Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

June gave me a confused look. "Okay then...," She turned to get back to work. "Oh, and thanks for the coat!"

I waved it off. "Don't mention it." I said.

With that she walked off and got back to work.

I could breathe again.

"What was that about?" Naegi asked, giving me a quizzical look.

"Shut up, Naegi." I said bluntly.

"What did I do?"

"Just zip it."

Naegi huffed before he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. "Whatever."

Suddenly, the doors to the gymnasium opened.

In stepped Leo Gonzalez with a cardboard box in his arms. He immediately smirked when he saw June.

"Naegi." I said.

"What?" Naegi asked.

I nodded my head at Leo. "Look."

Naegi turned his head and when he saw Leo, he turned pale. "Oh boy... What is he doing here???" he mumbled.

"I don't know," I said, starting for Leo. "but I'm sure as hell going to find out."

Naegi started after me. "Byakuya, wait...!" He didn't follow me the rest of the way, though.

I immediately stepped in Leo's path. He scowled when he saw me.

"Tell me, Gonzalez, are you deaf and stupid? Because the last time I checked, June specifically told you that she was DONE with you and to stay the hell away from her. Does that ring a bell in your tiny, little brain?" I sneered.

"June is just confused. Soon she'll see the error in her ways and will come running back to me like a good little girl--they always do," Leo said, glaring at me. "And, if she won't, then I'll just have to... resort to other measures, that's all."

Must resist the urge to beat him to a pulp... Must resist the urge to beat him to a pulp...!

"What the hell are you doing here anyway?" I snapped.

"For your information, not that it's any of your business, I'm here because I'm helping out the Dance Committee." Leo sneered.

It's obvious he's just here to try and get close to June.

Well, it won't work, not while I'M around.

I got dangerously close to Leo, my eyes burning into his. "If you hurt her--if you touch her--mark my words, Leo Gonzalez, I will not hesitate to hunt you down and MAKE YOU SORRY." I growled.

Leo chuckled, as if me threatening to end him was funny. "Try then. But, no matter how you play it, I'm Leo Gonzalez, and I always get what I want," He nodded his head at June. "Right now, I want June, and don't doubt that I will get her."

Then he stauntered off with the box in his arms.

I glared at his back intensely, wishing his head would burst into flames.

Naegi walked up to me and put an arm on my shoulder. "Byakuya, are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded before I shrugged his arm off. "I'm fine, Naegi, no need to worry."

"You sure?"

I watched as Leo began to approach June, who, when she saw him, immediately froze before cowering away and retreating from the scene faster than I've ever seen anyone go.

She probably made up some excuse to use the bathroom or something of that nature.

I sighed at Naegi's question. "I'm sure." I said with my teeth gritted.

And I was, for now anyway.

But if Leo even thinks of going after June again, I won't have a problem with making the bastard wish he was never born.